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Another example would be Bloomberg as mayor of NYC. A sugar tax was attacked as an attack on the poor, minorities, overreach of government, attack on freedom to name a few. I can’t see it being supported any time soon by another politician as Bloomberg was in a position to be able self fund a campaign and be a bit more drastic in certain areas. You mention Michelle Obama who got more crap as well for trying to get kids to exercise as well.

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Good point. I disliked Bloomberg as an individual (although he proves me wrong in that height isn't everything) but thought the sugar tax was a great idea. I was quite depressed by the reaction to it, because a lot of left-leaning people took umbrage at it, citing the popularity of soda among minorities and the poor. I was more into party politics at the time, and was astonished at how intense and sustained the opposition was on Democratic forum sites.

Thoughtful arguments about public health policy, corporate greed, agricultural subsidies, etc. etc. were dismissed with bullshit rhetoric about people's right to enjoy their favorite soda flavor. It was organic too, in the sense of not being astroturfed - I knew the people on the forums quite well, but they just dumped all their regular principles once they felt they were affected b¥ an issue that hit their taste buds.

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